Jammu – The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday said that preparations are underway to conduct Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in the Union Territory, with the State Election Commission making the necessary arrangements to hold the polls at the earliest opportunity.
The announcement was made in a written response to a question raised by MLA Surjeet Singh Salathia during the ongoing session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The lawmaker had sought clarity on the timeline for conducting the much-anticipated local body elections across the region.
“The superintendence, direction, and control of holding Panchayat and Municipal Elections is vested with the State Election Commission, which is actively working on the arrangements required for conducting both Panchayat and ULB elections at the earliest,” the government said in its reply.
Citing the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, the government stated that, under Rule 7, the official notification of election dates for Panchayat Halqas—village-level constituencies—will be issued in the Gazette following consultation with the Election Authority. This notification will formally initiate the process of electing sarpanches and panches.
For municipal elections, the government referred to Rule 3 of the J&K Municipal Corporation and Municipal (Elections) Rules, 2003. According to the rule, once the government issues the directive, the State Election Commission is required to begin preparing or revising electoral rolls for all relevant municipal bodies in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
While reiterating its commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy, the government did not specify a fixed timeline for the elections. Officials, however, emphasized that all steps are being taken to ensure the democratic process moves forward without undue delay.
The last Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2018, and their term concluded in 2023, raising public and political expectations for a timely electoral exercise.
The Chenab Times News Desk
